Apparatus utilizing and method of partial lamination for a seamless interface with touchscreen functionality

ABSTRACT

A seamless interface with touchscreen functionality and the method of manufacture are disclosed. An apparatus utilizing the seamless interface with touchscreen functionality, and a method of manufacturing the apparatus are similarly disclosed. The seamless interface has a front member, adhesive means, and a support member with an opening. The apparatus includes a touchscreen device, a rear member, and the seamless interface. The rear member secures the touchscreen device in the opening of the support member, which thereby contacts the front member of the seamless interface. Partially laminating the front member with the support member having an opening utilizing an adhesive means creates the seamless interface. This design enables the touchscreen functionality of the touchscreen device placed behind the front member to transfer through the front member, thereby allowing a user to communicate with the touchscreen device through the seamless interface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a method for and apparatusutilizing a partial lamination technique for providing a seamlesstouchscreen interface which utilizes the existing touchscreenfunctionality of a touchscreen device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Devices with touchscreen capabilities are well known and widely used intoday's society. Numerous electronic devices, such as smart phones,computers, and tablets, use touchscreens to allow the user to interactand give commands to a touchscreen device. While there are multiplemethods for obtaining touchscreen functionality in touchscreen devicesin general, they all generally require a user to contact the screen witha body part, usually a finger, to interact with the touchscreen device.

Many other apparatuses incorporate touchscreen devices into theirdesign, thus enabling the apparatus to have a touchscreen enabled userinterface. For example, portable photobooth apparatuses generallyincorporate touchscreen tablets placed behind or flush with a glassinterface to enable a user to take pictures of themselves. In order fora user to access the touchscreen device's touchscreen functionalitywhile incorporated in an apparatus, the touchscreen interface of thetouchscreen device must either be exposed, allowing the user to touchthe touchscreen device directly, or placed behind a layer of plastic orglass with a touch-foil installed between the layer of plastic or glassand the touchscreen device.

Each approach to incorporating touchscreen devices into an apparatushave their own respective drawbacks. In apparatuses where thetouchscreen interface of the touchscreen device is exposed, thetouchscreen device cannot seamlessly fit into the apparatus.Furthermore, users directly touch the touchscreen interface of thetouchscreen device, which can dirty or damage the touchscreen uponrepeated use. Additionally, the lack of a seamless fit of thetouchscreen device in the apparatus can create an unclean and unpleasantaesthetic to the apparatus.

A touch-foil is typically required to enable touchscreen functionalityfrom behind a layer of glass or plastic in apparatuses where thetouchscreen device is placed behind a layer of glass or plastic. Thetouch-foil is generally connected to the touchscreen device via a USBconnection and requires a separate controller board that needs to bemounted somewhere in the apparatus. To make it functional, drivers needto be installed and calibrated to permit touchscreen capabilities behindthe layer of glass or plastic. Touch-foils can be expensive, and requireextra labor and time to install. Additionally, the touchscreen devicewill need additional software installed to be compatible with thetouch-foil, and the touchscreen device will require numerous ports torender the touch-foil functional. Thus, there is a need for an apparatusutilizing the existing touchscreen functionality of a touchscreen devicethat does not require the additional hardware or software to beinstalled to access the touchscreen functionality of the touchscreendevice.

Generally, reducing the thickness of the layer of glass or plastic infront of the touchscreen device could permit the touchscreen to functionthrough the layer of glass or plastic. However, the layer of glass orplastic would need to be so thin that the layer of glass or plasticbecomes too fragile for practical or commercial use. Thus, there is aneed for a method of manufacturing and apparatus utilizing a low-cost,seamless, and durable interface designed to allow a user to utilize thetouchscreen capabilities of the touchscreen device while mounted behindthe interface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus utilizing partiallamination to create a seamless interface with touchscreenfunctionality. The present invention similarly relates to a method ofpartial lamination to create a seamless interface with touchscreenfunctionality. It is an object of the invention to create an apparatusutilizing a low-cost seamless interface with touchscreen capabilitydesigned to utilize the existing touchscreen functionality of atouchscreen device placed behind the seamless interface, as well as amethod of manufacturing this apparatus.

An apparatus utilizing partial lamination to create a seamless interfacewith touchscreen functionality includes a touchscreen device, a rearmember, and a seamless interface having a front member, adhesive means,and a support member with an opening. The seamless interface is createdby partially laminating the front member with the support member havingan opening, such that the seamless interface has a stiff, laminatedportion surrounding a thin, non-laminated portion enabling touchscreenfunctionality through the non-laminated portion of the seamlessinterface. The touchscreen device is then positioned in the opening ofthe support member, and between the front member and rear member.

A method of manufacturing a seamless interface with touchscreenfunctionality includes manufacturing a front member and a support memberwith an opening. The next step is coating either the front member and/orthe support member with an adhesive means where the front member andsupport member will come into contact. Then adhere the front member tothe support member having an opening, thereby creating the seamlessinterface.

After the seamless interface is manufactured, the next step ispositioning a touchscreen device into the opening of the support membersuch that the touchscreen portion of the touchscreen device contacts thefront member. The next step is tightening a rear member to the opposingside of the support member from the front member. Thus, the touchscreendevice is secured between the front member and the rear member andsurrounded by the support member, such that the seamless interface hasthe same touchscreen functionality of the touchscreen device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome appreciated, as the same becomes better understood with referenceto the specification, claims and drawings herein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of aphotobooth having an apparatus utilizing partial lamination for aseamless interface with touchscreen functionality.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art method of acquiringtouchscreen functionality through an interface.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a novel method of acquiring touchscreenfunctionality through a seamless interface.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the apparatus of the exemplary embodimentof FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a side cross-section view of the apparatus of the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the side cross-section view of theapparatus of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on”another element, it can be directly on the other element or interveningelements may be present there between. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These termsare only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another element, component, region, layer or section.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” and “have” and/or“having,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom,” and “upper” or“top,” and “inner” or “outer,” may be used herein to describe oneelement's relationship to another elements as illustrated in theFigures. It will be understood that relative terms are intended toencompass different orientations of the device in addition to theorientation depicted in the Figures.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein have the same meaning ascommonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which thisinvention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such asthose defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted ashaving a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context ofthe relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpretedin an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so definedherein.

I. Description of the General Apparatus

An apparatus 100 utilizing partial lamination to create a seamlessinterface with touchscreen functionality is provided. FIG. 1 depicts anexemplary embodiment of a portable photobooth 1 utilizing the apparatus100. While a portable photobooth 1 exemplary embodiment utilizing theapparatus 100 will be described throughout to illustrate the conceptsand elements of the invention, this exemplary embodiment of theapparatus 100 is not intended to limit the concepts and elementsdisclosed or the application of the invention in other contexts where atouchscreen is used such as point of purchase screens.

As depicted in FIG. 1 , the portable photobooth 1 includes the apparatus100, base 101, and stand 102. The apparatus 100 is configured to bepositioned above the stand 102 and base 101. Throughout FIGS. 1-4 , atouchscreen border 149 is depicted on apparatus 100 to highlight theposition of the touchscreen device 150 behind the front member 110. Thistouchscreen border 149 is preferably not visible behind the front member110 of the apparatus 100, thus giving the apparatus 100 a seamless frontappearance. The front member 110 and other elements of the apparatus 100are shown in greater detail in the exemplary embodiment depicted inFIGS. 4-6 .

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the differences between the prior art method ofacquiring touchscreen functionality through a user interface and thenovel method and apparatus disclosed. As shown in the prior artinterface 200 of FIG. 2 , a touch-foil 212 is placed between a userinterface 210 and the touchscreen device 150. The touch-foil 212 must beconnected to the touchscreen device 150 (typically via a USBconnection), have a separate controller board and drivers installed,then calibrated to correctly work with the touchscreen device 150. Thetouch-foil 212 is generally required due to the thickness of the userinterface 210, which must be sufficiently thick to be durable andresilient while being touched by a user. Without the touch-foil 212, thetouchscreen functionality of the touchscreen device 150 would not passthrough the user interface 210 due to the thickness of the userinterface 210, thus preventing any touchscreen capability of the priorart interface 200.

As shown in the novel partial lamination configuration depicted in FIG.3 , the touch-foil 212 is no longer required to enable touchscreenfunctionality from the touchscreen device 150 through a seamlessinterface 140. Due to the novel partial lamination configurationdisclosed below, the seamless interface 140 is sufficiently thick on theportions not contacting the touchscreen device 150 to remain durable andresilient, while the seamless interface 140 is sufficiently thin on theportions contacting the touchscreen device 150 to permit the touchscreenfunctionality of the touchscreen device 150 to pass through the seamlessinterface 140.

FIG. 4 depicts the schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of theapparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 4 , the apparatus 100 includes theseamless interface 140, a touchscreen device 150, and a rear member 130.The seamless interface 140 is constructed from a front member 110,adhesive means 112, and a support member 120. The front member 110 maybe a thin piece of glass or plastic sheet cut into any shape. Inalternative embodiments, the front member 110 may be entirelyconstructed of a thin piece of glass or plastic, a combination of glassand plastic, or be constructed of a piece of glass and/or plasticsurrounded by another material. In embodiments utilizing glass, theglass may be regular, tempered, of specialized impact resistantformation, or any other type of glass. The glass or plastic material mayalso be of any transparent or opaque type material. The front member 110may similarly be decorated with paint, be frosted, or be constructed asa one-way mirror (also referred to as a two-way mirror). The terms“one-way mirror” and “two-way mirror” have the same definition providedbelow and may be used interchangeably.

The front member 110 includes a central area 116, defined by the areainside the touchscreen border 149, configured to directly contact thetouchscreen surface 152 of a touchscreen device 150. The central area116 of the front member 110 is preferably the same size and shape of thetouchscreen device 150. The central area 116 is preferably constructedof a material that permits the light of the touchscreen device 150 topass through such that a user can see and interact with the touchscreendevice 150 placed behind the front member 110. For example, in analternative embodiment, the front member 110 may be a one-way mirror,such that when the touchscreen device 150 is off, the front member 110appears as a standard mirror, but when the touchscreen device 150 is on,the light of the touchscreen device 150 passes through the one-waymirror, allowing the touchscreen surface 152 of the touchscreen device150 to be seen.

The central area 116 should be sufficiently thin to permit thetouchscreen functionality of the touchscreen device 150 to pass throughthe central area 116 of the front member 110. In some embodiments, thecentral area 116 will be between 0.25 millimeters and 3 millimetersthick. In other embodiments, the central area 116 may be of otherthicknesses, so long as the touchscreen functionality of the touchscreendevice 150 is enabled through the central area 116 of the front member110. In embodiments where the front member 110 is constructed of auniform piece of material, the thickness of the front member 110 andcentral area 116 must be similarly uniform. In other embodiments wherethe front member 110 is constructed of multiple materials, only thethickness of the central area 116 must be sufficient to enable thetouchscreen functionality of the touchscreen device 150 through thecentral area 116. Due to the flush front and the thin central area 116of the front member 110, the front of the seamless interface 140 will beflush, thus creating a seamless interface 140 with touchscreencapabilities.

A support member 120 is utilized to support and stiffen the front member110. The support member 120 may be of similar size and shape as thefront member 110. The support member 120 includes a support memberopening 124. The support member opening 124 is configured to be the samesize or larger than the touchscreen device 150, such that thetouchscreen device 150 may be inserted into the supporting memberopening 124.

The support member 120 may be constructed of nearly any material so longas the material is sufficient to support, strengthen, and stiffen thefront member 110. For example, some embodiments may use glass, plastic,metal, wood, acrylic, PETG plastic, or similar materials as thesupporting member 120. Other embodiments may use other materials, solong as they provide sufficient support to the front member 110.

The support member 120 is secured to the front member 110 by an adhesivemeans 112. The adhesive means 112 may be any type of adhesive sufficientto permanently attach the front member 110 to the support member 120.For example, the adhesive means may be double-sided tape, epoxy,silicone, or any other adhesives sufficient for permanently securing thefront member 110 to the support member 120. The adhesive means 112 isonly placed on the portions of the front member 110 and support member120 that contact each other. Thus, the central area 116 of the frontmember 110 and the support member opening 124 will not be coated withthe adhesive means 112. The void in the adhesive means 112 will bereferred to as a central void 114. The result of adhering the frontmember 110 to the support member 120 in this way is to permit thepartially laminated seamless interface 140 to accept a touchscreendevice 150.

The touchscreen device 150 may be any device that has touchscreenfunctionality. For example, smart phones, tablets, touchscreen computermonitors, and other similar devices may be incorporated. Additionally,in other embodiments, touchscreen devices 150 incorporating a frontfacing camera and having software for taking photographs with the frontfacing camera may be utilized as well. Importantly, the touchscreendevice 150 must have a touchscreen surface 152 with touchscreencapabilities.

The rear member 130 is configured to be placed behind the touchscreendevice 150 and preferably attach to the support member 120, thussecuring the touchscreen device 150 between the front member 110 and therear member 130. The rear member 130 may be of any shape, size, orconfiguration so long as it provides sufficient pressure to the backsideof the touchscreen device 150 such that the touchscreen surface 152 ofthe touchscreen device 150 is in complete contact with the front member110. In other embodiments, the rear member 130 may attach to otherportions of the apparatus 100 so long as the rear portion provides thesufficient pressure to the backside of the touchscreen device 150 asdiscussed above. The rear member 130 may be removably or permanentlyattached depending on the embodiment. In some embodiments, the rearmember 130 may act as a rear cover to the apparatus 100. In otherembodiments, such as the exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 , therear member 130 may be separate and housed inside a cover 132.

II. Description of Method of Manufacture

The general schematics for a method of partial lamination to manufacturean apparatus with a seamless touchscreen interface is also depicted inFIG. 4 . First, manufacture a front member 110. Then manufacture asupport member 120 of similar shape and size having a support memberopening 124 located in the center area of the support member 120. Next,coat the front member 110 and/or the support member 120 with an adhesivemeans 112 everywhere the front member 110 and support member 120 willcontact each other. In some embodiments, only the support member 120will be coated with the adhesive means 112. In other embodiments, onlythe front member 120 will be coated with the adhesive means 112 in theareas the support member 120 will contact the front member 110. Inalternative embodiments, both the front member 110 and support member120 will be coated with the adhesive means 112. The area of the frontmember 110 not contacted by the support member 120 is the central area116 of the front member 110 that will contact the touchscreen device150. Then, adhere the front member 110 to the support member 120. Thisprocess partially laminates the front member 110, thereby creating astrengthened seamless interface 140 that the touchscreen device 150 canbe inserted into.

Next, position the touchscreen device 150 into the support memberopening 124 such that the touchscreen surface 152 of the touchscreendevice 150 contacts the central area 116 of the front member 110 that isnon-laminated. Then, tighten a rear member 130 to the opposing side ofthe support member 120 from the front member 110. This process securesthe touchscreen device 150 in between the front member 110 and the rearmember 130. The rear member 130 should contact the backside of thetouchscreen device 150. Tightening the rear member 130 to the supportmember 120 thus places sufficient pressure on the backside of thetouchscreen device 150 so the touchscreen surface 152 of the touchscreendevice 150 is in complete contact with the central area 116 of the frontmember 110. This permits a user to utilize the existing touchscreenfunctionality of the touchscreen device 150 through the non-laminatedcentral area 116 of the seamless interface 140, while the seamlessinterface 140 maintains sufficient strength and stiffness for practicaland commercial use.

In embodiments utilizing a separate cover 132 from the rear member 130,an additional step to the method is required. In these embodiments, oncethe rear member 130 is tightened to the support member 120, the cover132 is secured to the seamless interface 140, thereby enclosing thetouchscreen device 150 and rear member 130 in the apparatus 100. Thisadditional step is only necessary in embodiments utilizing a separatecover 132.

III. Exemplary Embodiment of the Apparatus

FIGS. 4-6 together depict the exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 100utilized for a portable photobooth 1. The description of the exemplaryembodiment provided below is to illustrate the general conceptspreviously disclosed, and is not intended to limit the concepts to thisexemplary embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 4-6 , the exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 100includes a front member 110, a slightly smaller support member 120 witha support member opening 124, a rear member 130, and a decorative cover132 to enclose the entire apparatus 100. In the exemplary embodiment,the cover 132 is a separate member from the rear member 130. The cover132 is configured to surround the rear member 130 and house thetouchscreen device 150 when the touchscreen device 150 is securedbetween the rear member 130, support member 120, and front member 110 asdisclosed above. As depicted in FIGS. 5-6 , the cover 132 is configuredto adhere to the front member 110 by the adhesive means 112, therebyenclosing the touchscreen device 150 in the apparatus 100.

In the exemplary embodiment, the front member 110 may be a circularpiece of transparent, tempered glass. The supporting member 120 may be acircular, transparent plastic material configured to strengthen thetransparent, tempered glass of the front member 110. The supportingmember 120 is adhered to the front member 110 by the adhesive means 112.The supporting member 120 is configured to be a slightly smallercircular piece than the front member 110 and include a supporting memberopening 124 and a plurality of threaded attachment openings 126. Asshown in FIGS. 5-6 , the adhesive means 112 cover the entire frontmember 110 except in a central void 114 matching the size and positionof the supporting member opening 124. When the supporting member 120 isadhered to the front member 110, the partially laminated seamlessinterface 140 is constructed.

The touchscreen device 150 is then positioned in the supporting memberopening 124 such that the touchscreen surface 152 of the touchscreendevice 150 is contacting the front member 110 and not the adhesive means112. A rear member 130 that is similarly circular in shape is placedbehind the touchscreen device 150. The rear member 130 may include atleast one rear member pad 134 to contact the rear of the touchscreendevice 150.

The rear member 130 has a plurality of attachment openings 136. Theplurality of attachment openings 136 are configured to accept a bolt orsimilar threaded attachment member, which runs through the attachmentopenings 136 and is capable of threading into the threaded attachmentopenings 126 of the support member 120. Tightening the bolt or similarthreaded attachment member secures the rear member 130 to the supportmember 120. When tightened, the rear member pad 134 pushes thetouchscreen device 150 through the support member opening 124 andagainst the front member 110, as shown in FIG. 5 . The bolt or similarthreaded attachment member is not shown in FIGS. 5-6 , as they bothdepict cross-sections of the apparatus 100.

Once the rear member 130 is secured to the support member 120, the cover132 then surrounds the rear member 130, touchscreen device 150, andsupport member 120, and is adhered to the front member 110 by theexposed portion of the adhesive means 112. While the exemplaryembodiment utilizes the adhesive means 112 to secure the cover 132 tothe front member 110, other methods of securing the cover 132 to thefront member 110 may be utilized without departing from the conceptsdisclosed.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein withreference to idealized embodiments of the present invention. As such,variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustratedherein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example,from manufacturing.

We claim:
 1. A seamless touchscreen interface apparatus for atouchscreen device, the apparatus comprising: a front member; a supportmember having a first opening; an adhesive means having a secondopening; the first opening and second opening configured such that thetouch screen device fits through them to rest against a portion of thefront member; wherein said adhesive means adheres said front member tosaid support member in all areas except said first opening; and a rearmember comprising at least one rear member pad, the rear member padconfigured to press the touch screen device against the front member;wherein the front member and the rear member are in peripheral contour.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rear member comprises at leastone first attachment opening and the support member comprises at leastone second attachment opening, the first attachment openings and thesecond attachment openings being in alignment.
 3. The apparatus of claim1, further comprising: a cover, wherein said cover is secured to saidseamless touchscreen interface, thereby enclosing said touchscreendevice and said rear member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein saidfront member is between 0.25 millimeters and 3 millimeters thick.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said front member is between 0.5millimeters and 2 millimeters thick.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said front member is tempered glass.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein said front member is a one-way mirror.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said support member is constructed of acrylic.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein said touchscreen device is in completecontact with the portion of said front member exposed by said firstopening of said support member.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid touchscreen device is a tablet having a front facing camera andphotograph capabilities.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a stand and a base, wherein said apparatus is configured tobe mounted on said stand, and wherein said stand is supported by saidbase.
 12. A method of manufacturing a seamless touchscreen interfaceapparatus for a touch screen device, the method comprising:manufacturing a front member; manufacturing a support member, having afirst opening; coating said support member with an adhesive means havinga second opening; configuring the first opening and the second openingsuch that the touch screen device fits through them to rest against thefront member; adhering said front member to said support member in allareas except the first opening; providing a rear member comprising atleast one rear member pad, the rear member pad configured to press thetouch screen device against the front member; and configuring the frontmember and the rear member in peripheral contour.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising the step of: configuring the rear memberwith first attachment openings, configuring the support member withsecond attachment openings, wherein the first attachment openings andthe second attachment openings are in alignment.
 14. The method of claim13, further comprising: securing a cover to said seamless touchscreeninterface, thereby enclosing said touchscreen device and said rearmember.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein said touchscreen device hasa front facing camera and photograph capabilities.
 16. The method ofclaim 12, wherein said front member is manufactured out of temperedglass.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said tempered glass isbetween 0.25 millimeters and 3.0 millimeters thick.
 18. The method ofclaim 12, wherein said support member is manufactured out of acrylic.